Closure means for a container



June 14, 1966 T. NABRASKI CLOSURE MEANS FOR A CONTAINER Filed Oct. 19,1964 I NVENTOR.

72/500 ORE MAB/8A SK/ BY HA5 A 7702/1/575 FIG. 2.

United States Patent 3,255,946 CLOSURE MEANS FOR A CONTAINER TheodoreNabraski, 1545 N. Bronson, Apt. 112, Los Angeles, Calif. 90028 FiledOct. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 404,718 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This inventionrelates to closure means for a container and more particularly toimproved locking means for releasably securing the closure flaps of acontainer to provide a closable pouring opening.

Containers for many commercial items such as soap powders and cerealsmust be adequately sealed while traveling from producer to consumer toprevent contamination and spillage. The typical domestic consumer willrarely use the entire contents of such a container as soon as it isopened. Rather, small quantities are usually Withdrawn from thecontainer at intervals. Between usages, it is desired that the closureflaps of the container be releasably secured in closed position to keepthe contents of the container uncontaminated and to prevent spilling. Itis also desired that the container be easily opened prior to each usage.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improvedreleasable closure means for a container which will fulfill all of theabovenoted requirements. A further object of this invention is toprovide improved releasable locking means for the closure flaps of acontainer, which locking means is formed integrally with the closureflaps.

A further object of this invention is to form such locking means oncontainer closure flaps which are provided on intersecting edges of acontainer.

Another object of this invention is to provide closure means in whichone closure flap has an opening adjacent one end thereof providingaccess to the interior of the container and two closure flaps formed onintersecting container edges to close the opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide closure means which areeasily opened and which can be quickly secured in the closed position.

Another object of this invention is to provide closure means which areinexpensive and easy to manufacture.

The objects of the invention may be realized by providing a containerformed of, for example, cardboard and having an open rectangular end,preferably an open upper rectangular end. Closure flaps are formedintegrally with the edges of the container. One of the side closureflaps has a cutout portion adjacent one end there of to provide anopening for access to the interior of the container. Two other containerflaps which are formed on intersecting edges of the container overliethe first flap and the opening. These latter two flaps are formed withinterlocking means such as a locking edge and a locking groove whichcooperate to releasably secure some or all of the flaps in the closedposition. By disengaging the locking surface and the locking groove, atleast one of the flaps may be moved to an open position to expose theopening and allow the contents of the container to be withdrawn. Thecontainer is also provided with rupturable means for holding the flapsin the closed position. The rupturable means may take the form of astrip of tape, a releasable adhesive, or glue which seals the flaps inthe closed position during shipment from the producer to consumer. Inuse, the consumer merely ruptures the rupturable seal, withdraws aportion of the contents of the container, and then releasably securesthe closure flap in the closed position by engaging the locking surfaceand locking groove.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantage thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the foltainer.

lowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.The drawing merely shows and the description merely describes apreferred embodiment of the present invention which is given by way ofillustration or example.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container rotated so that its upperend is forward and showing two closure flaps disposed over an open upperend of the container and the other closure flaps folded back away fromthe open upper end of the container;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the closure means of the present inventionshowing three of the closure flaps in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the closure means of the present inventionshowing all of the flaps sealed in the closed position by rupturablesecuring means; and

FIG. 4 shows the closure means of the present invention with therupturable securing means removed and the flaps held in the closedposition by the engagement of a locking groove and a locking edge.

FIG. 1 shows a container 11 which is adapted to be closed by the closuremeans of the present invention. The container 11 is preferably made froma semiflexible material such as cardboard or plastic and may be adaptedto contain any commodity including granular edible material, powderedsoaps, etc. The container 11 has a pair of rectangular sides 13 and 15,a pair of rectangular ends 17 and 19, and a rectangular bottom 21 whichform a hollow rectangular box. The sides 13 and 15, the ends 17 and 19,and the bottom 21 may either be formed integrally from the same piece ofmaterial or they may comprise several separate sheets of materialappropriately bonded together. The container 11 has a rectangular openupper end 23 which may be closed by the closure means described below.

The closure means preferably comprises a pair of end closure flaps 25and 27 and a pair of side closure flaps 29 and 31 which are preferablyformed integrally with the ends 17 and 19 and the sides 13 and 15respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the end flap 25 is rectangular and coextensive withthe open upper rectangular end 23 for slightly less than one-half of thelength of the open upper end. The end closure flap 25 is pivotal aboutan integrally formed upper container end edge 33 which is common to boththe end closure flap 25 and the end 17 of the container. In the closedposition the flap 25 is preferably beneath the other closure flaps 27,29, and 31. The size of the end closure flap 25 may be varied inaccordance with the container rigidity required and the kind of materialto be stored within the container. The end closure flap 25 may berigidly secured in the closed position or it may be allowed to pivotabout the upper container end edge 33 if it is desired to expose agreater portion of the open upper end 23 when the container 11 isopened.

The next flap which is pivoted into the closed position is the sideclosure flap 29 which overlies the end closure flap 25. The side closureflap 29 is integral with the side Wall 13 and is pivotal about anintegrally formed upper container side edge 35 between an open and aclosed position. The side closure flap 29 is generally coextensive withthe rectangular upper end of the container'll except for an edge 37which defines a cutout portion or an opening 39 which provides access tothe interior of the con- In the specific embodiment illustrated, theopening 39 is formed adjacent the end of the flap 29 and does not extendfor the full width of the flap 29. Various sizes and shapes of theopening 39 may be employed; however, the one illustrated is desirablebecause it is easily and tightly closed by the closure means of thepresent invention.

The side closure flap 31 is formed integrally with the side of thecontainer 11 and is pivotal about an upper container side edge 41between an open position '(FIG. 1) and a closed position (FIGS. 2-4).The side closure flap 31 has a short end edge 43 adjacent the endclosure flap 27 and a free lateral edge 45 opposite the upper containerside edge 41; The side closure flap 31 also has a generally oblique edgeor a locking edge 47 curving from the short end edge 43 to the freelateral edge 45. When the side closure flap 31 is pivoted to its. closedposition shown in FIG. 2, it overlies a portion of the side closure flap29 and a portion of the opening 39. However, a substantial portion ofthe opening 39 remains to provide access to the interior of thecontainer 11. Of course the side closure fiap 31 could cover a larger orsmaller portion of the opening 39 if desired.

The end closure flap 27 is preferably formed integrally with therectangular end 19 and is pivotal about an upper container end edge 49between an open position (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a closed position (FIGS. 3and 4). The end closure flap 27 in the closed position has a side edge51 extending generally in the direction of the upper container side edge41, a slanting edge 53 extending from the side edge 51 to a point atabout the locking edge 47 and a reverse edge 55 extending from theslanting edge 53 generally toward the upper container side edge it. Theslanting edge 53 and the reverse edge 55 form a V-shaped locking groove57, the point of which lies approximately on the locking edge 47 whenthe end closure flap 27 is in an unstressed condition. The end closureflap 27 also has an elongated side edge 59 which preferably extends tothe point of intersection of the locking edge 47 and the free lateraledge 45 of the side closure flap 31. The end closure flap 27 also has anend edge 61 and a sloping edge 63. When the end closure flap 27 is inthe closed position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it completely covers theopening 39.

In shipping the container from the producer to the consumer, the endclosure flap 27 may overlie the side closure flap 31 as shown in FIG. 3.Rupturable securing means for sealing the closure flaps in this positionare provided. In FIG. 3, the rupturable securing means takes the form ofa strip of tape 65 which overlies the end closure flap 27 and a portionof the side closure flap 31 and then extends downwardly over portions ofthe rectangular sides 13 and 15. In lieu of the adhesive tape 65, one orboth of the edges 51 and 55 may be formed integrally with the container,or a spot of glue may be used between the end flap 27 and the side flap31.

When the rupturable securing means 65 is unbroken, the locking edge 47may or may not be fitted within the V-shaped locking groove 57. However,once the rupturable securing means has been broken, the open upper end23 of the container 11 can only be closed by properly engaging theV-shaped locking groove 57 and the locking edge 47 as shown in FIG. 4.It is apparent from FIG. 4 that a portion 67 of the end closure flap 27lies beneath the side closure flap 31 when the V-shaped locking groove57 and the locking edge 47 are engaged in the locked position.

To lock the flaps in closed position, the flap 27 which is constructedof semiflexible material such as cardboard or plastic is curved and bentfrom an unstressed condition to the left and upwardly as viewed in FIG.4 until a point 69 on the end closure flap 27 clears the locking edge47. At this time the point 69 and the portion 67 of the flap 27 may beslid beneath the side closure flap 31 until the locking edge 47 engagesthe point of the V-shaped locking groove 57. Simultaneously with theengagement of the locking groove 57 and the locking edge 47, the endclosure flap 27 reaches its unstressed condition. Thus, the flaps arelocked in the closed posi tion. To facilitate locking and unlocking ofthe flaps, it is preferred that the sloping edge 63 stop short of and bedisposed of at an angle with respect to the upper container side edge 41as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In order that more than one of the closureflaps cover most of the upper end 23 of the container 11, it ispreferred that the elongated side edge 59 of the end flap 27 extend tothe intersection of the locking edge 47 and the free lateral edge 45 ofthe side closure flap 31. It is also preferred that the slanting edge 53and the reverse edge 55 which form the V-shaped groove 57 intersect toform a very small angle to snugly engage the locking edge 47. Thereverse edge 55 may be generally perpendicular to the upper containerend edge 41.

All of the closure flaps are preferably constructed of cardboard,plastic, or other semiflexible material. It should be understood thatany or all of the flaps 25, 29, and 31 may be rigidly secured in theclosed position. In this instance, pivoting the end flap 27 to its openposition would expose a portion of the opening 39 through which thematerial in the container 11 may be poured. It should also be understoodthat the opening 39 in the side closure fiap 29 may be provided in otherpositions, such as at the opposite end of the upper end 23 adjacent theend closure flap 25. In this instance, at least the flaps 27 and 31would have to be pivoted to the open position following disengagement ofthe V-shaped locking groove 57 and the locking edge 47 to expose theopening 39. Although the locking edge 47 is preferably curved, astraight edge may be used. Furthermore, the closure flaps need not beformed on the edges of the upper end of the container, but may 'beprovided on any suitable container edges including the edges of thesides 13 and 15, the ends 17 and 19, and the bottom 21.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, itwill be understood that other applications of the invention are possibleand that the embodiment disclosed may be subjected to various changes,modifications, and substitutions without necessarily departing from thespirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 4

1. A container and closure means therefor comprising:

a cardboard container open at its upper end and including twointersecting upper container edges;

a cardboard side closure flap formed integrally with 7 a closed positionin which said end closure flap at least partially overlies said upperend, said end closure flap in said closed position having a side edgeextending generally in the direction of said one ofsaid upper containeredges, a slanting edge extending from said side edge to about saidlocking edge of said side closure flap and a reverse edge extending fromsaid slanting edge generally toward said one of said upper containeredges, said slanting and reverse edges forming a locking groove forcooperating with said locking edge to releasably $605111? said endclosure flap in the closed position; an rupturable means for securingsaid end closure flap in said closed position. 2. A container andclosure means therefor comprising:

a cardboard container open at its upper end including two interestingupper container edges; I a cardboard sideclosure flap formed integrallywith one of said upper container edges, said side closure flap having ashort end edge adjacent the other of said upper container edges and afree lateral edge opposite said one of said upper container edges, saidside closure flap having a substantially obliquely extending lockingedge extending from said short end edge to said free lateral edge;

a cardboard end closure flap formed integrally with the rupturablesecuring means releasably securing said ing:

end closure flap in said closed position whereby after said securingmeans is ruptured, the end closure flap may be held in said closedposition by engagement of said locking edge with said V-shaped groove. Acontainer and closure means therefor compriscontainer having asubstantially rectangular upper end;

first side closure flap having an edge formed integrally with saidcontainer, said first side flap being generally coextensive with saidrectangular upper end except for a cutout portion adjacent one end ofsaid container, said cutout portion defining an opening providing accessfrom the exterior to the interior of said container;

second side closure flap formed integrally with said container at oneedge thereof and overlying said first side closure flap, said secondside closure flap having a locking edge extending obliquely from saidone end of said container across said opening toward said integrallyformed edge of said first side closure flap, whereby at least a portionof said opening remains to provide access from the exterior to theinterior of said container;

cardboard end closure, flap formed integrally with said container atsaid one end and extending to approximately the point where said lockingedge ends, said end closure flap being pivotal about said one endbetween an open position in which at least a portion of said openingcommunicates with the exterior and the interior of the container and aclosed position in which said opening is completely closed by said endclosure fiap, said end closure flap having a side edge extendinggenerally away from said one end, said side edge having a generallyV-shaped groove formed therein, the point of said groove when said endclosure flap is in said closed position lying approximately on saidlocking edge; and

rupturable securing means releasably securing said end closure flap insaid closed position whereby after said securing means is ruptured theend closure flap may be held in said closed position by engagement ofsaid locking edge with said V-shaped groove.

A container and closure means therefor comprising: container having asubstantially rectangular upper end;

first side closure flap formed integrally with said container, saidfirst side closure flap being generally coextensive with saidrectangular upper end except for a cutout portion adjacent one end ofsaid rectangular upper end, said cutout portion defining an openingproviding access to the interior of said container;

second side closure flap formed integrally with said container andoverlying said first side closure flap, said second side closure flapallowing at least a portion of said opening to remain uncovered;

an end closure flap formed integrally with said con- 6 tainer anddisposed so that in a closed position said end closure flap will overlieat least a portion of each of said side flaps and all of said opening;and interlocking means formed on said second side flap and said end flapfor releasably securing said end flap in said closed position.

5. In combination:

a container having two adjacent container edges formed on intersectinglines, said container edges at least partially defining an apertureproviding communication with the interior of said container;

a first closure flap overlying at least a portion of said aperture andattached to one of said container edges;

a second closure flap overlying at least a section of said aperture andattached to the other of said container edges, at least one of saidclosure flaps being pivotal away fromsaid aperture to providecommunication through said aperture to the interior of said container;and

interlocking means formed on said closure flaps for releasably securingsaid closure flaps in overlying relationship with said aperture, saidinterlocking means including a locking edge on said first closure flapand a locking groove on said second closure flap.

6. In combination:

a container having two adjacent container edges formed on intersectinglines, said container edges at least partially defining an apertureproviding communication with the interior of said container;

a first closure flap overlying at least a portion of said aperture andattached to one of said container edges, said first closure flap havinga locking edge extending away from said one container edge; and

a second closure flap overlying at least a section of said aperture andattached to the other of said container edges, said second closure flaphaving a generally'V- shaped locking groove adjacent said locking edgeof said first closure flap, said V-shaped locking groove beinginterlockable with said locking edge;

at least one of said closure flaps being pivotal away from said apertureto provide communication through said aperture to the interior of saidcontainer.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said aperture isgenerally rectangular and said second closure flap extends generally inthe direction of said one container edge for less than about one-halfthe length of said one container edge.

8. In combination:

a container having two adjacent container edges formed on intersectinglines, said container edges at least partially defining an apertureproviding communication with the interior of said container;

a first closure flap having an outer periphery, said first closure flapbeing attached to one of said container edges and having a locking edgeextending away from said one of said container edges, said locking edgeforming a portion of said outer periphery, said first closure fla-poverlying at least a portion of said aperture; and

a second closure flap overlying at least a section of said aperture andattached to the other of said container edges, said second closure flaphaving a generally V-shaped locking groove adjacent said locking edge ofsaid first closure flap, said locking groove being interlockable withsaid locking edge;

at least one of said closure flaps being pivotal away from said apertureto provide communication through said aperture to the interior of saidcontainer.

9. In combination:

a container having two container edges formed on intersecting lines,said container edges at least partially defining an aperture providingcommunication to the interiorof said container;

a first closure flap attached to one of said container edges, said firstclosure flap having a short end edge adjacent the other of saidcontainer edges and a free lateral edge opposite said one containeredge, said first closure flap having a substantially obliquely extendinglocking edge extending from said short end edge to said free lateraledge; and

a second closure flap attached to said other of said container edges andat least partially overlying said aperture, said second closure flaphaving a side edge extending generally in the direction of said one ofsaid container edges, a slanting edge extending from said side edge toabout said locking edge of said first closure flap and a reverse edgeextending from said' slanting edge generally toward said one of saidcontainer edges, said slanting and reverse edges forming a lockinggroove which is interlockable with said locking edge;

at least one of said closure flaps being pivotal away from said apertureto provide communication through said aperture to the interior of saidcontainer.

10. In combination:

a container having two adjacent container edges formed on generallyperpendicular intersecting lines, said container edges at leastpartially defining an aperture providing communication with the interiorof said container;

a first closure flap overlying at least a portion of said aperture andattached to one of said container edges;

a second closure flap overlying at least a section of said aperture andattached to the other of said container edges at least one of saidclosure flaps being pivotal away from said aperture to providecommunication through said aperture to the interior of said container;

interlocking means formed on said closure flaps for releasably securingsaid closure flaps in overlying relationship with said aperture; and

a third closure flap on said container overlying said aperture and beinggenerally coextensive therewith except for a cut-out portion defining anopeningproviding communication with the interior of said container, saidfirst and second closure flaps closing said opening, at least one ofsaid closure flaps being pivotal away from said opening to providecommunication through said opening to the interior of said container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,833,599 11/1931Stroehrnann 229-35 2,588,996 3/1952 Snyder 22917 2,762,552 9/ 1956Hickin. 2,956,719 10/1960 Nalle 229-17 3,073,505 1/1963 Ullger 229 -353,079,063 2/1963 Yezek 229-17 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,404 1892 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER AND CLOSURE MEANS THEREFOR COMPRISING: A CARDBOARDCONTAINER OPEN AT ITS UPPER END AND INCLUDING TWO INTERSECTING UPPERCONTAINER EDGES; A CARBOARD SIDE CLOSURE FLAP FORMED INTERGRALLY WITHONE OF SAID UPPER CONTAINER EDGES, SAID SIDE CLOSURE FLAP HAVING A SHORTEND EDGES ADJACENT THE OTHER OF SAID UPPER CONTAINER EDGES AND A FREELATERAL EDGE OPPOSITE SAID ONE OF SAID UPPER CONTAINER EDGES, SAID SIDECLOSURE FLAP HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY OBLIQUELY EXTENDING LOCKING EDGEEXTENDING FROM SAID SHORT END EDGE TO SAID FREE LATERAL EDGE; ACARDBOARD END CLOSURE FLAP FORMED INTEGRALY WITH THE OTHER OF SAID UPPERCONTAINER EDGES AND HAVING A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH SAID END CLOSUREFLAP AT LEAST PARTIALLY OVERLIES SAID UPPER END, SAID END CLOSURE FLAPIN SAID CLOSED POSITION HAVING A SIDE EDGE EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THEDIRECTION OF SAID ONE OF SAID UPPER CONTAINER EDGES, A SLANTING EDGEEXTENDING FROM SAID SIDE EDGE TO ABOUT SAID LOCKING EDGE OF SAID SIDECLOSURE FLAP AND A REVERSE EDGE EXTENDING FROM SAID SLANTING EDGEGENERALLY TOWARD SAID ONE OF SAID UPPER CONTAINER EDGES, AND SLANTINGAND REVERSE EDGES FORMING A LOCKING GROOVE FOR COOPERATING WITH SAIDLOCKING EDGE TO RELEASABLY SECURE SAID END CLOSURE FLAP IN THE CLOSEDPOSITION; AND RUPTURABLE MEANS FOR SECURING SAID END CLOSURE FLAP INSAID CLOSED POSITION.